I am living in a non-muslim country where there is a very small non-Arab muslim community and I am fearful of being tempted into Zina. I want to get married but I do not feel ready(emotionally) for marriage and its responsibilities because I am still continuing my studies. I am financially able to marry a muslim woman from my country but I am not ready for a real marriage and I need someone to get me out of my lonlyness in this foreign country. I am thinking of marrying an older(as I am 28 years old) non-muslim woman(40-50) who can keep me away from Zina and at the same time be a help(financial, emotional and social) to me rather than a worry. The woman I intend to marry is Christian but she does drink alcohol occasionally. Also, I am not sure if she will obey me in covering her arms or lower legs when out of the house. After, finishing studies I plan to marry a muslim woman from my country. Also, I am not sure where I will settle after finishing studies(I am leaving all of my options open as I can work in a number of different countries). Having said all of the above please answer the following for me: 1. Can I marry such a woman? 2. If she stops drinking and she covers most of her body(except putting the hijab) can I marry her then? 3.Should I have to tell her about intending to marry another woman?(she probably will not mind but she will ask for a divorce before I get married). 4. Do I have to tell my Muslim wife that I am married to another woman? 5. Since she is old and she probably would not want to live in another country, can I divorce her? or must I have to travel back and forth to be with her? When answering the questions please keep in mind that I maybe succesful to get her to accept Islam. Jazakumullah Khairan for your help.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

Our answer to your questions will be summarized in the following:

1-     Allaah permitted Muslims to marry women from the People of the Book provided they are chaste as clarified in Fatwa 84159.

2-     We do not advise you to marry the said woman even if this is permissible in principle, as this could lead to many disadvantages because the women from the People of the Book, in this present day and age, are not chaste. For more benefit on the disadvantages of marrying women of the People of the Book and the problems that arise thereof, please refer to Fataawa 84724 and 89418. Furthermore, since you are able to marry a Muslim woman, then you should not exchange that which is better for that which is lower and worse.

3-     If it happens that you do marry this woman, you are not obliged to inform her that you are planning to marry a second wife, and you are not obliged to inform the second wife that you are already married with one wife. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 82068. As regards divorcing her in the future, then please refer to Fataawa 84426 and 83457. 

Finally, for more benefit on the ruling of residing in a non-Muslim country, please refer to Fatwa 86405.

Allaah Knows best.